We are NOT authorized by Govt of India for Yellow Fever Vaccination

Monday, July 28, 2014

Hi, is it necessary to have vaccinations? If so, what should be vaccinated? For example, Td, MMR.... thanks.

ANSWER:

The vaccination requirement can vary between different universities in UK. Generally speaking though, the current recommendation is that if you are up to and including 24 years of age,

you should have had TWO mumps vaccinations and ONE Meningitis C vaccination.

In India, many of us have taken only a dose of measles as a child (in the govt sector MMR is still not available), hence we should plan for 2 doses of MMR (at least 4-12 weeks apart). Also take a single dose of MCV 4 (ACWY - MENACTRA), since the plain Meningitis C vaccine is not available in India.

For more information on travel health, and vaccines for higher education of students from India in any country including USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand & Canada etc. contact us at TravelSafe Clinics.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Carbon dioxide, heat are biggest draws for mosquitoes

Author: By Sara Cheshire Special to CNN

Just about everyone can agree that mosquitoes are more than a little annoying. They bite, the bites itch and the repellent stinks. Even more disturbing are the incurable viruses these tiny predators can carry, including West Nile, malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever and chikungunya.

But just about everything else you thought you knew about mosquitoes and mosquito bites may be wrong.

Here are the facts behind five mosquito myths to help prevent the itch and maintain your health:Myth No. 1: All mosquitoes bite humans

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes. Some feed on plant nectar, some on reptiles, some on birds and others on mammals. Of the species that do bite humans, it is only the females that go for blood -- the protein aids in egg production.

The Aedes vexans species, which is found in every U.S. state, does feed on humans, making it seem that all mosquitoes are out to get you.

For this species, "if you're a mammal, you're on the menu," said Joseph M. Conlon, a retired U.S. Navy entomologist and a technical adviser to the American Mosquito Control Association.

Random fact: The mosquito featured in "Jurassic Park" wouldn't have bitten humans or dinosaurs, Conlon said; it is the only species that doesn't feed on blood.

You may have heard that eating certain foods -- such as bananas, beer and garlic -- can attract or repel mosquitoes. But Conlon said, "Nothing that you eat affects mosquitoes all that much."

You can rest assured that wearing dark clothes probably won't draw mosquitoes to you either. And Conlon said a study on mosquitoes' attraction to Type O blood was later refuted due to bad statistics.

Harry Savage, chief research entomologist at the CDC, said carbon dioxide and heat are the biggest draws for mosquitoes. Scent can also play a role. Ingredients in your sweat and other skin secretions, which are often genetically determined, can make one person more attractive to a mosquito than another.

Both experts agree that size matters when it comes to being bitten.

Evidence suggests mosquitoes tend to prefer men over women, adults over children and larger people over smaller ones. Conlon said the larger figures likely produce more heat, more carbon dioxide and have more body mass to bite.

Myth No. 3: Pregnancy puts you at risk

If you think that being pregnant makes you a mosquito magnet, you aren't alone. A study published in 2000 supported the belief that mosquitoes prefer pregnant women.

But the study included only 36 pregnant women and 36 nonpregnant women, and used mosquitoes native to Gambia, a small country in Africa.

Conlon and Savage said the study might be valid, but not for the obvious reason.

Pregnant women give off more heat and carbon dioxide, which our experts said are attractive to mosquitoes. Getting hot and sweaty, and breathing heavily after a workout could potentially make you just as much of a target as a mom-to-be.

Myth No. 4: Citronella plants and candles will protect you

"Citronella is a weak repellent -- the oil. You have to crush the leaves," Conlon said. So that citronella plant on sale at the store? It's not your best bet for preventing bites.

Citronella candles aren't going to help much either. A breeze or change of wind direction can blow away any protection.

"To me, citronella only protects the candle," Savage said.

Conlon said there is no known effective area repellent. The best option is an Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellent for use on the body, such as products that contain the ingredient DEET. The EPA has an online tool for finding products that meet its standards.

Conlon also cautions against natural products claiming to repel mosquitoes. "There really isn't any evolutionary pressure to produce a (natural) repellent for humans. We are just another protein source on this planet."

Myth No. 5: The United States is free of mosquito-borne diseases

"No matter where you go in the U.S., there are good vectors (mosquitoes that transmit disease)," Savage said.

The Asian tiger mosquito, common in the Eastern and Central states, is a particular species to watch. It arrived in the United States from Asia in the 1980s, and the species is a documented carrier of dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya, dog heartworm and West Nile. Savage said this mosquito can be found in Ohio and Missouri, for example, and along the East Coast.

Malaria is no stranger here either. Malaria can flourish in moderate climates, Conlon said, not just in the tropics. As recent as the late 19th century, half the United States was endemic with the disease, according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Of more recent concern to public health experts is the introduction of atypical or non-native viruses, such as West Nile and chikungunya.

"More challenges are meeting our shores every day from tourism and travel. If we let our guard down, chikungunya could take hold here," Conlon said. "The world's becoming a smaller place, and some of nastiest diseases on Earth are only a six-hour plane flight away."

Comment: I am concerned about 1 particular fact here. Citronella is mentioned as being not very protective. In india many bands & tattooz are being marketed for kids as being mosquito repellents. I would urge parents to make sure that they are using a mosquito repellent cream in addition to any citronella based arm band etc. since there clinical efficacy is not proven.

you should give any live vaccine at least 1 month for all live vaccines, and since YF vaccine is a live one, I would recommend giving the vaccine 1 month before the liver transplant.

As far as vaccination after a solid organ transplant, generally all KILLED vaccines can be restarted after 3-6 months of the procedure. Live vaccines are NOT recommended after solid organ transplantation as per the above mentioned reference

Friday, July 4, 2014

We are planning to visit Kenya on 18th August, my wife has given birth to a baby on 16th Feb 2014,just want to see if it’s still necessary for her to get vaccinated as the doctor suggests no vaccination till she is breast feeding .. please suggest.

Vaccination of breastfeeding women should be avoided where possible. Ideally, the mother should postpone her visit to a yellow fever area so as to avoid the risk in herself & the baby to get yellow fever disease. However, if the risk of YF during travel is considered sufficiently high they may be vaccinated. Where an infant less than 9 months of age is breastfeeding, and the mother needs YF vaccination for personal protection, one option is to discontinue breastfeeding and replace feeds with formula on the day of vaccination and for a further two to three weeks (minimum 10 days) (expressing and disposing of breast milk during that time). Breast feeding can be recommenced after this time.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

At least eight children have died of encephalopathy spreading from litchi in the last 24 hours in Malda Medical College and Hospital.

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MALDA: At least eight children have died of encephalopathy spreading from litchi in the last 24 hours in Malda Medical College and Hospital.

The abundant production of litchi in Malda this year and its falling price have naturally led to huge consumption of the fruit. But now it has turned into a nightmare with the number of ailing children rising by the day. The health department, not sure about the prevention, was waiting for a medical team from Kolkata that was expected to reach on Saturday evening.

The district administration sent a team to affected villages on Saturday morning to talk to the villagers.

Among the children who died of the litchi syndrome are Tariqul, Jahir Sk, Siddiki, Ayesha Khatun, Khurshia Khatun, Sarfaraz and Rahul Pramanik. All of them belonged to villages of Kaliachak and are in the age group of 3 to 5 years. These villages have produced the most litchis this year.

Dr M A Rashid, vice-principal of Malda Medical College, confirmed that the victims got high fever and their brains were affected. With the sudden rise in temperature, they began to vomit and had convulsions. "We appeal to people that whenever you see such symptoms, bring the children to hospital immediately," Rashid said.

At present, six children with the symptom are being treated at the medical college. They have been kept with other children in the same ward. While guardians are panicking, not knowing what to do, the administration has not been able to give them specific advice either.

"This kind of encephalopathy virus spreads from litchi. The disease originated in China and Vietnam years ago. Later it was seen at Muzaffarpur in Bihar," said Rashid.

This is not the first time Malda has been affected with the disease. "In 2012, more than 100 children died of encephalopathy," conceded a health official. It is feared that the number of victims who reached medical college is only a small section of the huge number affected.

Minister of food processing and horticulture, Krishnendu Choudhury, who was also the chairman of the Medical College Patients' Welfare Committee, expressed his concern.

"I've heard that the virus spreads from litchi. We will do everything required to prevent an epidemic. A four-member team from the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata is on its way to Malda. After getting their report, we'll take steps accordingly," he said on Saturday.

About Me

I am a pediatrician based at Mohali, a suburb of chandigarh, North India. I have my own virtual office at www.charakclinics.com; I have been a pediatrician since 1994. I hope to make ths blog a regular feature with tonnes of relevant info for parents, especially in India, because i feel that "informed parents are better parents". My interests include research in OPD practice, specifically new vaccines and travel medicine. I am a member of American Academy of Pediatrics, Indian Academy of Pediatrics, and various travel organizations like International Society for Travel Medicine (ISTM), American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (ASTMH), International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT), and British & Global Travel Health Association (BGTHA)